Blouse.



PM 7/ W4 L. H. HAYS.

BLOUS'E.

APPLIQATION FILED APR. 5. 1909.

Patented Feb. 7,1911.

THE NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, u. c.

LOUIS H. HAYS, 0F

CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BLOUSE.

To all whom it may concern; j Be it known that I, Louis I-I. 'Hars,citizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga,and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement inBlouses, of which the following is a specification, the principle of theinvention being herein explained and the best mode in which I havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

The present invention, relating as indicated to blouses, has moreparticular regard to the arrangement of the cord or shirrstring, wherebythe diameter of the lower edge of the blouse is adjusted.

The object of the invention is the disposition in a blouse, or similargarment, of the cord in such fashion that there are no ends to becomelost in the hem of the garment, while at the same time the adjustment iseffected by drawing the cord and tying the same without the use of anybuttons, hooks, or the like, which are obviously objectionable in aconnection of this sort.

To the accomplishment of these ends, said invention, then, consists ofthe means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out inthe claim.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain construction embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing :-I*igure 1 is an elevational view of a blouse,more or less diagrammatic in character illustrating the mode ofattaching the cord thereto in accordance with the present invention,such cord being shown as drawn up and tied as in use; while Fig. 2illustrates a portion of the blouse with the string in the extendedcondition in which it remains when the garment is not in use.

As has already been indicated, it is not intended to limit the field ofusefulness of my improved construction and disposition of cord orshirr-string to use with blouses alone, since obviously it is equallyadaptable to various garments embodying the adjustable, or take-up,feature of construction; it is found, however, particularly useful inconnection with blouses, and the latter is Specification of LettersPatent.

Application fi1ecl April 5, 1909.

hence chosen for illustrative purposes.

A characteristic feature of the class of Serial No. 487,851.

garment in hand, is a hollow hem a extending around the edge (in thecase of the blouse A, the bottom edge) of the garment. In the usualconstruction of blouses, this hem is left open at the front, so that therespective ends of the cord whereby the garment is taken up, may bepermitted to protrude to any desired length. The adjustment of thegarment is then effected by simply drawing up these ends and tying theminto a suitable bowknot, so that their separation can be again readilyeffected when desired. In accordance with the present invention, I donot thus permit the ends of the cord B to protrude at all, but sew thesame to the blouse, at the same time sewing shut the ends of the hem atthe points where the bottom button a and button hole a are respectivelyprovided. At a point, however, removed a suitable distance from eitherone of the ends of the cord thus seen to be sewed into the garment, Iprovide a slot or opening a into the hem, through which a looped portionZ) of the cord will normally project, inasmuch as the total length ofthe cord included within the hem is slightly greater than that of suchhem; and should by any accident the entire cord be drawn into the hem,it-may be readily caught where it passes across the slot, and suchlooped portion thereupon pulled through.

In use, the adjustment of the garment is effected by simply pulling upsuch looped portion 6 so as to suitably gather in the edge of thegarment, as will be readily understood (see Fig. 1). The portion of thecord withdrawn, merely augments the size of the loop, which latter maythereupon be readily tied into a bow-knot, much after the fashion inwhich the open ends of the old fashioned cord are tied. It is obviouslya matter of indifference where the slot a and loop 6 be located, butordinarily as shown, it will be most convenient to have them removedonly a short distance from the front line of the garment, so that thewearer may himself effect the adjustment if desired.

I am aware that cords have heretofore been provided with their endssewed to the blouse at the bottom button and button hole at the front ofthe blouse but in such arrangement two separate cords have been employedso that, unless the slot through which the free ends of the cord projectbe located directly opposite the front of the blouse, the adjustmentmust necessarily be Patented Feb. '7, I911.

llO

effected by drawing on one string only. A very longdangling string ishence left on the one side, when it comes to tying the knot. Theobjectionable character of this arrangement I entirely overcome by myutilization of a loop in a single integral string, since the respectiveportions of such loop employed in forming the knot may be made equal inlength, utilizing the excess length of the one portion to increase thatof the other portion of the tie.

I therefore particularly point out and dis tinctly claim as my inventionAn open-front garment provided with a hollow hem extending around itsedge to the front, and formed with a slot at a point removed from thefront, in combination with a single adjusting cord arranged within saidhem, and having its ends secured to the garment at the bottom portionthereof, a portion of said cord being adapted to project in the form ofa loop through said slot, whereby said cord may be drawn outward andtied.

Signed by me this 29th day of l\f[arch,1909.

LOUIS H. HAYS.

Attested by- CHRISTINE E. ARNS, ANNA L. GILL.

